A Powerful Ending: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Final Season Review

It’s only been two years since She-Ra cam roaring onto Netflix, but what a ride it’s been. While it hasn’t always hit the mark, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power has delivered on great story telling, deep character arcs and development, and well-drawn action. With a lot to live up to, does the final season give fans the conclusion it deserves? While the pacing of this season seems to be stuck at super sonic levels, I’m happy to report that the finale season delivers a satisfying conclusion that this series deserves.

The end of the last season left our heroes battered and broken, our main heroes had a falling out and our resident voice of reason Bow (Marcus Scribner) was unable to keep the group grounded, Glimmer (Karen Fukuhara) and Catra (AJ Michalka) were taken prison by the biggest bad Horde Prime, Adora (Aimee Carrero) had broken her sword and lost her connection to She-Ra, and Etheria had been brought out of the pocket dimension and exposed a full on invasion, the likes of which it had never seen before. From the jump, the story moves at breakneck speeds, though never feels like it’s skimping on development. It’s tight and concise, never wasting a moment but giving our characters room to breathe when it’s needed, even some minor princesses get a lot more time here after feeling so minor and to former seasons.

Part of what made this season great was the inclusion of Horde Prime, played masterfully by Keston John. He’s able to distinguish this performance from Hordak enough that I forgot that he plays them both. Horde Prime was the antagonist the series needed to bring the stakes higher than they’ve ever been. Hordak, Shadow Weaver (Lorraine Toussaint) and Catra play great villians because of their faults and internal struggles with the feelings they try to bury. He’s imposing, intelligent, and outright terrifying at times. Horde Prime is the opposite, everything is about him, he’s extended his life so long and conquered so much that he’s prepared for anything. He’s pompous, but it’s earned; being so imposing that he knows better than to let himself be played and quickly turns the table on our heroes. With him, the final season really feels likes it’s a true do or die situation.

Some of the main ongoing themes throughout the show have always been friendship and love in all its form, and the final season is no different but with a bit of a harder edge. Relationships are put to the test after so much upheaving last season, and I enjoyed that it wasn’t glossed over. Even when things get better, our heroes have to heal and forgive, and it doesn’t happen in an instant making for some great story telling. We get some great growth from almost everyone and the finale really brings everything together. Without spoiling anything, the story and all the characters really do get the satisfying conclusions they earned.

Season 5 of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power wraps up everything rather nicely and delivers on a fantastic ending. While this does feel like the end of this story, it doesn’t feel like the end of this world of characters. Maybe down the line we’ll get the further adventures or our heroes or even a side story in the future, but it’s not needed. Like good friends moving on to bigger and better things, it’s sad to see them go but you know they’ll be fine. Thanks for the adventure!